My six year old was acting a fool and I was uncomfortable. Earlier that day, my husband received a text from his boss, the associate pastor of a Spanish speaking church, asking him if we would be at service that night. Fairly new to this job and a little insecure that we don’t speak the heart language of so many in the congregation at Lion of Judah, my husband pulled me aside during nap time and asked if I thought... Read more
It’s Monday, y’all! Time for another “Sing it on Sunday, Live it On Monday” post. In this weekly series, I’ll reflect on a worship song that I sung at church or during my week. If there ever was a series I’ve dreamed of writing, it’s this one. I love worship music. I appreciate the hard work of a songwriting to combine a lovely melody and sound theology, and, like I said last week, God reveals himself to me more clearly... Read more
Welcome, welcome friends to this week’s Library Haul post! Before I talk about the books, I need to start with a confession…y’all ready for it to get really real? First off, this week’s haul was made between two separate trips. I didn’t have time to go by myself like I hoped to become my weekly rhythm. In my defense though, Saturday morning, the library sent me the most pernicious email ever: “Your books on hold are ready for pick-up” What... Read more
Hey Friends! On Mondays, I want to try to carve out a little time to reflect on the music we sang in church on Sunday. A blogger and author I love, Michelle DeRusha used to have a link up called, “Hear it On Sunday, Use it On Monday” which is such a good idea. I loved her passion to gather a community to take time to think about the ways God spoke to them on Sundays because y ‘all... Read more
I just got home from one of the most fulfilling and decadent self-care activities, ever. Going to the library alone. It’s much more refreshing than the spa. Way more energizing than enjoying a venti latte at Starbucks. More efficient than solo shopping at Target. A more nourishing for my soul than going for a walk on a breezy summer’s morning. Visiting the library by myself a luxury I rarely, but really should make time to do. As stay at home... Read more
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! I can’t contain my joy today. Of all days, today, Resurrection Sunday, our hope in Christ in realized. When Jesus rose from the grave, he did more than thumb his nose at metaphysics or performed another miracle, he brought Shalom! Death, suffering, injustice, violence, oppression, all come under his rule because he OVERCAME. His life was vindicated and his self-giving example of love upheld when he rose from the grave. Our wholeness is... Read more
I’ve been singing this song all day. On the Saturday before Resurrection Day, I like spend time thinking about this rhythm of death, burial, resurrection that marks the Christian life. Jesus taught us that the life of faith requires death: death of our comfort, death to our idols, death of our pride, death to whatever gives us life apart from him. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their... Read more
It was day one, leg one of the trip and a series of events caused us to leave for our move eight hours later than we planned.Couple that with the exhaustion from loading furniture all day and you’ve got yourself the perfect storm of parental weariness. So, when we pulled into the motel at midnight, unloaded our overnight bags and very shaken up cat, we all just wanted to go right to bed. Having a dinner of crackers, cheese, apples,... Read more
We’re finally here! We made it #FromBostontoLA. It took us eleven days to visit nine cities and deliver three love bombs. Phew! It’s a month later and I still can’t believe we did it. When TC was offered the associate pastor position at New City Church of Los Angeles, we planned this trip with two goals in mind: 1: Have a much family time, making as many as possible and 2: To do as much good for other as possible.... Read more
I’m at SheLoves writing about our #FromBostonToLA road-trip with a purpose. For weeks, I’ve been researching these lovely shalom seekers and for weeks I’ve familiarized myself with the pain of their community. But I’m struggling because it doesn’t feel like enough. My family showing up with a box of donations does not feel like enough. It feels small and insignificant and too many times I’ve prayed, “Jesus, I want to do more for them, give more to them. But I’m... Read more
Shalom in the City
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